PHILIPPINES JOINS PUSH TO PROTECT AT LEAST 30% OF PLANET'S LAND, OCEANS
MANILA — Environmentalists lauded the biodiversity-rich Philippines for joining the coalition that aims to protect and conserve at least 30% of the planet’s land and oceans by 2030.
The Philippines joins Cambodia, Japan, India, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Papua New Guinea as the Asian members of the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People.
Co-chaired by Costa Rica, France and the United Kingdom, the HAC is an intergovernmental coalition of over 100 nations that have committed to champion the ambitious 30x30 biodiversity target that will not only help address biodiversity loss but also mitigate the impacts of climate change.
“With the majority of the 30x30 SEA Coalition members coming from the Philippines, we are grateful that our government leaders are heeding not just the call of the masses but also what science is telling us on the need for this high ambition for our planet,” said Jamie Dichaves, 30x30 SEA campaign lead.
Conservationists said the Philippines, one of the world’s 17 megadiverse countries, has an important role to play in leading the conservation of nature.
“The Philippines is a respected leader regarding biodiversity conservation, and their participation in this intergovernmental coalition sends a strong message not only across the region, but across the planet, about the importance of protecting more of our natural world,” said former US Senator Russ Feingold, chair of the Campaign for Nature’s Global Steering Committee.
HOUSE PASSES BILL STRENGTHENING ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LAW FOR WOMEN WORKERS
MANILA — The House of Representatives approved on its third and final reading a bill strengthening the anti-discrimination provisions under the Labor Code of the Philippines instituted to safeguard women employees.
The chamber, voting 248 votes, approved House Bill No. 4479 which amends Article 135 of Presidential Decree No. 442 or the Labor Code of the Philippines, which lists acts of discrimination prohibited, as well as Article 137 outlining prohibited acts.
The bill seeks to strengthen the anti-discrimination provisions of the law by providing that it “shall be unlawful for any employer to discriminate against any woman employee with respect to terms and conditions of employment solely on account of her sex or characteristics of her sex, whether actual or presumed.”
It also revised the second act of discrimination and added a third one under Article 135, as amended.
Under the House bill, three instances are added to the definition of acts of discrimination:
- Payment of a lesser compensation, including wage, salary or other form of remuneration and fringe benefits, to a female employee as against a male employee, for work of equal value;
- favoring a male employee over a female employee with respect to assignment, promotion, employment benefits, training opportunities, study and scholarship grants solely on account of their sex or characteristics of their sex, whether actual or presumed; and
- favoring a male employee over a female employee with respect to dismissal of personnel or the application of any retrenchment policy of the employer solely on account of their sex or characteristics of their sex, whether actual or presumed.
The proposed measure also aims to amend Article 137, as amended, by revising the second prohibited act to "discharge such woman on account of her pregnancy [,] or while on leave or WHILE in confinement due to her pregnancy.”
The bill also added a fourth prohibited act which is “to deny any woman the benefits of employment or other statutory benefits under our laws by reason of her sex.” It further added that any employer who commits or attempts in any manner to commit any of the acts prohibited under Article 137 or any rule or regulation issued pursuant thereto shall, in addition to other penalties as may be provided by law, upon conviction, be punished with a fine between P50,000 to P200,000 and/or suffer imprisonment of one to two years.
2 BUS BOMB SUSPECTS SLAIN IN ‘SHOOTOUT’
COTABATO CITY — Two suspects tagged in a recent bomb attack on a passenger bus in Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat were killed in an alleged shootout with police officers in this city yesterday.
Haron Akmad Martin and his wife Aiman Mandi reportedly fired at a team of police officers out to serve a warrant for their arrest in Barangay Rosary Heights 6, according to separate reports from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region police and the Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos) police.
A passenger was killed while 11 others were wounded in the explosion that ripped through a bus of the Yellow Bus Line in Tacurong on Nov. 6.
Police officials clarified earlier reports that the suspects were arrested by a joint team of the regional and provincial police.
Officials of Barangay Rosary Heights 6 told journalists that the couple died from multiple gunshot wounds.
Mandi and Martin were reportedly members of the Dawlah Islamiya terror group, according to Brig. Gen. John Guyguyon, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region police director.
Army and police intelligence officers said the suspects have links with the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.
The terror groups have pledged allegiance to international terrorist organization Islamic State.
Aside from their alleged involvement in the Tacurong bus bombing, the suspects were also tagged in an attack on the South Seas Mall in 2018, which killed a minor and wounded seven others.
SOLGEN STEPS INTO POWER ISSUE
The Office of the Solicitor General is working with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) on ways to get the Court of Appeals (CA) to lift its temporary restraining order (TRO) that the government fears will drive up electricity costs for millions of consumers.
The ERC had earlier denied a petition by a San Miguel Corp. (SMC) subsidiary, SMC Global Power Holdings Corp. (SMCGP), to raise the price of the power it sells to the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), noting that the 2019 supply agreement between the two companies does not allow it.
But SMCGP took its case to the CA, which imposed a TRO on the ERC, effectively suspending the implementation of the 2019 supply agreement.
Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s foremost concern was the welfare of Filipino consumers.
He said the 60-day TRO issued by the CA, which took effect immediately, did not provide the distribution utilities and other parties concerned adequate time for preparation.
Lotilla said the ERC believed that the Power Supply Agreement (PSA) between the two parties would have required prior notice from SMCGP in case of a pre-termination.
“The solicitor general has been in communication with the ERC on the steps to be taken to lift the TRO,” he said.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said that pending the case’s final resolution, energy stakeholders, including DOE, ERC, Meralco and SMC, “must see to it that a steady supply of electricity is maintained and that there are no significant power interruptions.”
Gatchalian said he would closely monitor the resolution of the case as it would determine whether fixed price contracts of PSAs could be changed.
“This case will set a precedent for the energy sector as to whether power-generating companies, along with distribution utilities, could revise power supply contracts with fixed prices. We hope that at the end of the day, consumer interest will be protected,” he said.
‘PRESSURED TO SURRENDER’ AS REBELS, 2 UCCP PASTORS SEEK SUPREME COURT PROTECTION
MANILA — Two Christian pastors and a lay leader have sought the protection of the Supreme Court against alleged red-tagging by members of the Philippine Army’s 59th Infantry Battalion (59th IB) in Batangas.
United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) pastors Rev. Edwin Egar, his wife Rev. Julieta Egar, and former barangay captain Ronald Ramos filed a petition for a writ of amparo on Monday, asking the high court to prohibit members of the military from harassing them or from going near them.
A petition for a writ of amparo is a remedy available to those whose rights to life, liberty and security are violated or threatened with violation by an unlawful act or omission of a public official or employee, or of a private individual or entity.
Pastor Edwin and Ronald claimed members of the 59th IB visited their houses and accused them of “giving aid to communist insurgents,” without showing proof.
They were included in a list of alleged New People’s Army rebels given to the barangay by the military and were allegedly pressured to surrender on Nov. 3 this year.
Ronald said he received information from an informant that he was placed under surveillance and that his house would be searched by military and police personnel, where firearms and explosives will be planted and he and his brother would supposedly be killed through a fabricated shootout.
This would allegedly resemble the Bloody Sunday incident in March 2021 where 9 activists were killed in simultaneous police and military pre-dawn operations in Batangas, Cavite and Rizal.
As a result, Ronald had to temporarily leave his house.
Pastor Edwin also decided to seek shelter elsewhere, leaving his wife Julieta alone in their house and his constituency, without a pastor.
“Petitioners could not bear to stay in their homes after they knew that they could be surveilled by Respondents 59th IB, who are trained military officers, from any point of view at any time of the day especially in the context of having received text messages that killing them was an option for Respondents 59th IB,” the petition said.
DA MONITORING RED ONION SUPPLY AS PRICES REACH P300 PER KILO
MANILA — The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Monday said it is looking into the supply of red onion in the country after monitoring a spike in prices in various markets.
DA Asst. Secretary Kristine Evangelista told state-run PTV that based on their monitoring, red onions were sold at around P280 a kilogram, with one market even selling for P300 per kilogram.
“Nakita na po natin yung pag spike ng presyo ng pulang sibuyas… Ngayon kami ay nakikipag-ugnayan sa Bureau of Plant Industry para makita natin ang supply situation para makita natin ang kadahilanan ng pag spike ng presyo,” she said in a public briefing.
“Hinihintay po natin ang report mula sa Bureau of Plant Industry base sa mga inventories sa mga cold storage facilities,” she said.
So far, the government has yet to consider importing more red onions to the country, the DA official said.
“Sabi po nila (farmers) mayroon sila harvest ng Disyembre... Titingnan natin ang volume na kanilang puwedeng i-harvest dahil yan ay makaktulong sa pagdagdag ng supply,” she said.
“Within the week we will have an inventory situation… That will definitely help sa ating supply situation,” she said.
For now, Filipinos may avail of red onions priced below P200 per kilo in Kadiwa stores, she said.
WHO: MONKEYPOX TO BE RENAMED JUST ‘MPOX’
Geneva— Monkeypox is to be renamed mpox in English, the World Health Organization announced Monday, in a bid to avoid stigmatization stemming from the existing name.
Monkeypox received its name because the virus was originally identified in monkeys kept for research in Denmark in 1958, but the disease is found in a number of animals, and most frequently in rodents.
“Following a series of consultations with global experts, WHO will begin using a new preferred term ‘mpox’ as a synonym for monkeypox. Both names will be used simultaneously for one year while ‘monkeypox’ is phased out,” the UN health agency said in a statement.
THE REST
========
PHILIPPINES RECORDS 8,032 NEW COVID CASES, 120 DEATHS IN PAST WEEK
MANILA — The Philippines recorded 8,032 additional COVID-19 cases in the past week, the Department of Health said Monday.
From Nov. 21 to 27, an average of 1,147 daily infections were recorded in the country, which is 0.3 percent higher compared to the previous week.
Of the new infections during the week, 5 or 0.06 percent were severe and critical, according to DOH's latest bulletin.
As of Sunday, 599 or 9.3 percent of COVID-19 admissions were in severe and critical condition, the agency said.
At least 526 or 21.6 percent of 2,430 intensive care unit beds for COVID-19 patients were occupied. The non-ICU bed utilization rate was at 25.2 percent.
During the past week, the DOH has also verified 120 more COVID-related fatalities, citing late encoding of death information.
As of November 27, some 73 million people in the country are already fully vaccinated against the respiratory disease, the DOH said.
BAGUIO THUMBS DOWN WATER ACCESS FOR COMMUNITY LIVING IN PROTECTED WATERSHED
BAGUIO CITY — Villagers in a barangay located within a watershed reservation have been denied access to water by the Baguio Water District, which said it cannot grant their request because they are living in a protected area.
At least 25 residents of Pinget, situated within the Buyog Watershed Forest Reserve, had asked the city council for water service to their community.
BWD lawyer Chanell Dolor de Guzman stressed that Proclamation No. 93, s. 1992, which established the Buyog Watershed withdrew the entire area from entry sale, disposition, or settlement. "[I]ndeed, water is a basic human right, the BWD's hands are tied by restrictions due to the fact that we have to protect the water sources therein," de Guzman said.
Aside from water service, Proclamation No. 93, s. 1992, Section F of Ordinance 67-2009 categorically prohibits the installation of electric and water supply to structures that are "within government reservations, school areas, national and forest reservations, duly identified watershed areas, road right-of-ways and on dangerous areas as identified by the proper government agency."
Not even a Certificate of Ancestral Land Claim (CALC) issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources would overturn Proclamation No. 93.
The BWD had not granted any application for structures situated within forest and watershed reservations since the passage of the ordinance. No exemption is given to any applicant residing within a reservation so as not to create any precedent, the water district official said.
Based on a DENR-CAR survey, of the 20 hectares delineated for the Buyog Watershed, 12 hectares have already been occupied by settlers while the remaining 7.92 hectares is still forested.
5 TRAFFICKED WOMEN RESCUED
BAGUIO CITY — Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and personnel of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) rescued five women who were victims of human trafficking in Bauang, La Union on Tuesday night.
The women, aged 21 to 28 years, were reportedly being asked to render sex services by Emmanuel Diongon and his partner for P1,500-P2,000.
Reports said the transactions were usually conducted near a convenience store in Barangay Poro Point, San Fernando City.
The suspects were placed under surveillance for several days after the NBI received information about their illegal activities.
An entrapment operation was conducted in a hotel in Bauang, where the suspects brought the five women to two NBI agents, who posed as customers.
The suspects were collared as soon as they received the marked money from the NBI undercover agents.
Diongon and his companion were brought to the NBI-Ilocos region office for questioning.
Charges for violating the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Law will be filed against the suspects, the NBI said.
NO CODING FOR BONIFACIO DAY, SAYS MMDA
There will be no number coding on Wednesday, according to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.
“The implementation of the Expanded Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP) or number coding scheme is suspended from 7 a.m. -10 a.m. and 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. on November 30, Wednesday, Bonifacio Day,” the MMDA stated in its advisory Monday.
“On this day, vehicles with license plates ending in 5 and 6 covered by coding every Wednesday can travel on the main streets of Metro Manila during the said coding hours,” it added.
ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE
VALEEN MONTENEGRO IS NOW ENGAGED
MANILA — Actress Valeen Montenegro on Sunday announced that she is engaged to be wed to her boyfriend Riel Manuel.
On her social media post, Montenegro shared the good news to her followers as she uploaded snaps taken from the marriage proposal.
"Easiest YES!!!" she wrote on her Instagram page.
Manuel also announced their engagement on his social media post.
Celebrities including Janine Gutierrez, Chito Miranda, Jessy Mendiola, Camille Prats, Kim Molina, and Megan Young greeted the couple on their engagement.
SPORTS
NBA SCORES OF NOV 27
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Trail Blazers11-9 24 33 23 17 97
Nets10-11 31 27 26 27 111
BARCLAYS CENTER, BROOKLYN, NY
PLAYERS OF THE GAME
player headshot J. Grant POR PF
29 PTS , 4 REB , 5 AST
player headshot K. Durant BKN PF
31 PTS , 5 REB , 5 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Warriors11-10 47 29 33 28 137
Timberwolves10-10 27 29 33 25 114
TARGET CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS, MN
PLAYERS OF THE GAME
player headshot S. Curry GS PG
25 PTS , 11 REB , 8 AST
player headshot A. Edwards MIN SG
26 PTS , 4 REB , 4 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Pacers11-8 29 28 12 31 100
Clippers12-9 35 24 23 32 114
CRYPTO.COM ARENA, LOS ANGELES, CA
PLAYERS OF THE GAME
player headshot J. Smith IND PF
23 PTS , 9 REB
player headshot I. Zubac LAC C
31 PTS , 29 REB , 3 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Heat10-11 23 28 34 21 106
Hawks11-9 31 29 21 17 98
STATE FARM ARENA, ATLANTA, GA
PLAYERS OF THE GAME
player headshot B. Adebayo MIA C
32 PTS , 8 REB , 1 AST
player headshot J. Collins ATL PF
23 PTS , 14 REB , 2 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Cavaliers13-7 20 31 22 29 102
Pistons5-17 26 30 22 16 94
LITTLE CAESARS ARENA, DETROIT, MI
PLAYERS OF THE GAME
player headshot D. Mitchell CLE SG
32 PTS , 5 REB , 1 AST
player headshot M. Bagley III DET PF
19 PTS , 10 REB
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Grizzlies12-8 25 29 39 34 127
Knicks9-11 26 26 31 40 123
MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, NEW YORK, NY
PLAYERS OF THE GAME
player headshot J. Morant MEM PG
27 PTS , 10 REB , 14 AST
player headshot J. Brunson NY PG
30 PTS , 5 REB , 9 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
76ers11-9 36 31 32 34 133
Magic5-15 32 13 26 32 103
AMWAY CENTER, ORLANDO, FL
PLAYERS OF THE GAME
player headshot S. Milton PHI SG
29 PTS , 5 REB , 7 AST
player headshot P. Banchero ORL PF
18 PTS , 1 REB , 1 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Wizards10-10 26 29 33 33 121
Celtics16-4 35 37 41 17 130
TD GARDEN , BOSTON, MA
PLAYERS OF THE GAME
player headshot B. Beal WAS SG
30 PTS , 5 REB , 4 AST
player headshot J. Brown BOS SF
36 PTS , 5 REB , 2 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Mavericks9-10 33 29 34 19 115
Bucks14-5 41 32 31 20 124
FISERV FORUM, MILWAUKEE, WI
PLAYERS OF THE GAME
player headshot L. Doncic DAL PG
27 PTS , 5 REB , 12 AST
player headshot G. Antetokounmpo MIL PF
30 PTS , 11 REB , 4 AST
INDICATORS
FOREX $1 = P 56.64
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has many - not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some. - Charles Dickens
Comments (0)